Nina Wang Dies

On April 3, 2007, Nina Wang, the wealthiest woman in Asia, died at age 70.

Ms. Wang was the center of attention for many years after she was accused of forging her husband’s (Teddy Wang) will in an attempt to gain control of his vast estate.

According to Asia’s richest woman dies, Times Online, April 4, 2007,

The saga began when Teddy Wang, the multi-millionaire head of the Chinachem pharmaceuticals and property empire, was kidnapped in 1990. With no sightings, he was declared dead nine years later. By then, Nina Wang had built the family firm into a multibillion dollar concern with extensive international interests.

Three wills “signed” by Teddy Wang were produced in probate court. One, dated weeks before the abduction, left the estate to Nina Wang. Another, dated 1968, left everything to the testator’s father – and Chinachem founder – Wang Din-shin, overturning a first will, of 1960, which split the fortune between the two.

Wang Din-shin alleged that the handwritten 1990 will was a forgery and said his son’s decision to disinherit his wife in 1968 was a response to adultery. Observers were tantalised by alleged photographs of Nina Wang with a lover. Her then 91-year-old father-in-law won the case, with the judge, David Yam, ruling that he had “no doubt” that Teddy Wang’s signature was forged.

Nina Wang lost an initial appeal, but was cleared by the Court of Final Appeals in September 2005. That December, criminal charges of fraud, filed after the first – civil – case, were dropped.

Special thanks to Prof. Joel C. Dobris of the University of California-Davis for bringing Nina Wang’s death to my attention.